Power transmission



May 1943 E. H. PRIEBE v 2,319,515

POWER TRANSMISS ION Filed March 10, 1941 9 Sheets-Sheet l E- 4:- V F 3;; INVENTOR 39 Ewar i B'iel.

1943 E. H. PRIEBE 15 POWER TRANSMISS ION mvgN'ToR ATTORNEYfl E. H. PRIEBE POWER TRANSMISSION Filed March 10, 1941 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Edward H 7312):.

May 18,1943

I I l l ll y 1 E. H. PRIEBE 2,319,515

POWER TBANSMISS ION Filed March 10, 1941 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR 3 ffiward Frieze.

May 18, 1943 E. H. PRIEBE 1 POWER TRANSMISSION Filed March 10, 1941 9 Sheets-Sheet s lNV ENTOk Edward b. pie

M y 1943 E. H. PRIEBE POWER TRANSMISSION Filed March 10, 1341 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 a W Q Z WM v .WB L M.

ATTORNEYS May 18,1943 E. H. PRIEB E 2,319,515

POWER TRANSMISSION ,Filed March 10, 1941 9 sheets-sheet a Elm 17 In IIIII II v INVENTOR ATTORNEY5.

May 18, 1943 a H. PRIEBE I POWER TRANSMISSION 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 I Filed larch 10, 1941 QSW INVENTOR Fin rd /7. (fl 1 ATTORNEY Patented May 18, 1943 POWER. TRANSMISSION Edward H. Priebe, Detroit, Mich, asslgnor to Chrysler Corporation, Highland Park, Mich a corporation of Delaware Application March 10, 1941, Serial No. 382,467

34 Claims.

This invention relates to power transmission and refers more particularly to improvements in drives for motor vehicles.

It is an object of my invention to provide improved speed ratio change means and control mechanism therefor. I

Another object is to provide means for'converting standard types of transmissions for automatic o'peration without :nndue complication or expense .whereby existing transmissions and tooling therefor may be utilized but made to function in an improved manner, minimizing driving effort and increasing desirable car performance and change speed characteristics.

Another object is to provide means for effecting automatic speed ratio change, as between second and high in a standard type transmission,-

in conjunction with control means insuring disconnection of the drive between the vehicle drive wheels and the engine to prevent clash at the time of making th change.

A further object is to provide means for converting existing planetary overdrive and standard change speed transmission assemblies for improved operation whereby 'a plurality of automatic speed changes are obtained in an improved manner and the performance and control of the vehicle drive enhanced.

An additional object is to provide a plurality of step-up ratios so intercontrolled asto insure their sequential operation, one step-up ratio incorporating an overrunning control operating to facilitate operation of the other step-up ratio.

A still further object is to provide improved driver-operable shift control means for a vehicle drive according to any of the foregoing objects, the shift control preferably automatically providing an indicator for the performance of the transmission settings.

An additional object is to provide means automatically operating to set the transmission for forward drive as an incident to bringing the car inents which when engaged operate to render the engine releasing means inoperative.

Another object is to provide sequential operation of step-up drives with improved and sim-' power transmission.

Fig. 2 is a plan view illustrating the selector lever, the view being taken as shown by line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the selector mechanism taken as indicated by line H of Fig- 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view taken as indicated by line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevational view of the clutching drive means at the rear of the engine.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view through the blocker synchronizing mechanism, the view being taken as indicated by line 6-6 of Fig. 16.

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic top plan development of a part of the blocker synchronizing mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary top plan view of a portion of the high or direct speed blocker illustrating the lost motion connection for obtaining the blocking action.

Fig. 9 is a, side elevational view of the lower end of the steering post shift mechanism.

as inwiring diagram.

able upon release of the accelerator pedal at 'cer- Fig. 14 is a transverse sectional elevational view through the transmission taken as indicated by line "-14 in Fig. 12.

Fig. 15 is a sectional plan view of the Fig. 14 mechanism taken as indicated by line I-l5 in Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a. transverse side elevational view through the transmission and overdrive mechanisms taken as indicated by line l8l6 of Fig. 14.

Fig. 17 is a sectional side elevational view taken as indicated by line l1l1 of Fig. 14.

v Fig. 18 is a detail sectional side elevational view taken as indicated by line l8-I8 of Fig. 15.

' Fig. 19 is a. sectional top plan view taken as indicated by line l9l9 of Fig. 18.

Fig. 20 is a transverse sectional elevational view through the overdrive mechanism taken as indicated by line 20-20 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 21 is a sectional top planview taken as indicated by line 2 l2l of Fig. 20.

Fig. 22 is a sectional elevational view taken as indicated by line 2222 of Fig. 16.

. Fig. 23 is a sectional elevational view taken as indicated by line 23-23 of Fig. 16.

Fig. 24 is a further sectional elevational view as indicated by line 24-24 of Fig. 16, the electrical control for the sun gear being shown in diagrammatic form.

In carrying out my invention I preferably employ certain fundamental gearing mechanisms which have been commercially used on motor vehicles and which may be readily adapted to my invention. This effects considerable economy in that major tooling requirements are already available. However, the principles of my invention may, if desired, be utilized in a variety of arrangements other than the aforesaid commercially available devices. One of the gearing mechanisms now commonly known is the socalled transmission" of conventional form having three forward speeds and a reverse, the other gearing mechanism now commonly known being the overdrive mechanism usually arranged to receive the drive from the standard transmission. j

Because of the flexibility of control obtained by my invention, especially when used with a fluid coupling, I preferably eliminate as unnecessary the lowest drive ratio which is generally called first or low in the standard transmission. This also provides a place. for taking off the drive for governor control on the speed ratio change, the governor drive gear taking the place of the conventional low speed countershaft gear as will presently be more apparent.

In instances where the conventional low speed gear is replaced by a governor drive, I preferably provide means for preventing the driver from shifting the selector lever into the conventional first speed position, such means also preventing accidental entry of the shift lever into such position. With such arrangement the shift lever has three positions which in conventional practice would correspond to second," high or direct, and reverse. However, inasmuch as there is no first speed in such arrangement, the positions of the shift lever for second'and high will be hereinafter referred to as low and high positionsor ranges. v

The illustrated shift mechanism, which I have modified to accommodate my transmission control, is fundamentally that disclosed in the copending application to F. W. Slack, Serial No. 293,657 filed September 7, 1939. This shift mechanism comprises a manually operable lever 30 mounted below the usual vehicle steering wheel 31. This lever has an inner yoked end pivotally shaft 49 to provide the high or low drives.

\ as it is blocked by teeth 58.

connected at 32 with the head 33 fixed to the upper end of an actuating shaft 34 surrounding the steering shaft 35. Lever 30 is fulcrummed at 36 within the arcuately slotted portion 31 of the housing 38 fixed to the steering post 39. The shift lever is illustrated in its neutral position, the arrangement being such that shifting the lever forwardly from neutral provides the low range and pulling the lever backwardly from neutral provides the high range. For reverse. the lever is lifted when in neutral and then swung forwardly.

The transmission A (Figs. 15 and 16) comprises a main drive pinion 40 carrying a set of direct drive clutch teeth 41, this pinion being in constant mesh with the gear 42 of the countershaft cluster 43 which also carries the low range drive gear- 44 and a reverse gear 45. While the usual first speed countershaft gear may be provided according to conventional practice to provide a slower drive of greater torque multiplication-than is provided by gear 44, I preferably modify this conventional first speed gear by providing in its place a governor drive gear 46 meshed with a gear 41 for driving governor B. (Fig. 13).

Gear 44 constantly meshes with gear 48 ro tatably mounted on the transmission main output shaft 49 which is splined for sliding drive connection with the shiftable reverse gear 50. When gear 50 is shifted rearwardly it will mesh with reverse idler gear 51 which is in constant mesh with gear 45, thereby driving shaft 49 in a. reverse direction relative to the normal clock wise direction when looking front to rear. The gear 48 carries a set of clutch teeth 52 similar to teeth 41'.

In order to selectively clutch the output shaft 49 with either of teeth 4| or 52, I employ any suitable blocker synchronizing mechanism as best shown in Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 16. This is a well known commercial type of mechanism and comprises a hub 53 fixed to shaft 43, the hub having external teeth 54 for connection with the 7 internal teeth 55 of clutch sleeve C such that the teeth 55 may clutch teeth 4| or 52 with In order to limit clutching shift of sleeve C to conditions of synchronization and in order to synchronize the parts to be clutched in response to shift of this sleeve, there is provided a blocker ring 56 frictionally engageable at the cone 51 of pinion 40 and having cammed teeth 58 pointed toward similarly cammed ends of the sleeve teeth 55. A plurality of thrust-transmitting struts 59 are rotatably fixed to hub 53 but slidable axially thereof by friction connection with the inner surface of sleeve C, the friction connection being maintained by expansion springs 60. The forward ends of the struts bear against the face SI of a circumferentially elongated slot 62 in blocker 56 such that the blocker will drive with hub 53 but is capable of limited rotation relative to the hub sufficient to align blocker teeth 58 with the ends of sleeve teeth 55.

When sleeve 0 is shifted forwardly, struts 59 cause blocker 56 to engage cone 51 and blocker 53 will rotate relative to hub 53 in one direction or the other to bring struts 59 at one end of slot 62. In such position the sleeve cannot shift further cammed teeth 55 act on the cammed blocker teeth with servo action to cause sufllcient friction at cone 51 so that pinion 40 is brought to synchronism with sleeve C, the cammed teeth then However, the

Shift of sleeve C rearwardly to clutch with teeth 52 is under blocking synchronizing control of a blocker ring 63 having cammed blocker teeth 64 functioning in the same manner as that aforesaid in providing blocker synchronization between.

gear .48 and shaft 49. In this manner sleeve C rapidly clutches with teeth 4| or 52 without any possibility of clash or damage to the mechanism.

By' preference, the shift lever 39 is arranged so that sleeve C may be shifted independently of the power operation of the sleeve, also so that when the sleeve is'shifted by power then lever 39 will be automatically shifted and serve as an indicator to the driver of the speed ratio change and setting.

At its lower end the shaft 34 (Figs. 9 to 11) has fixed thereto a lever 65 having an intermediate wide portion 66 and an outer end portion pivotally connected at 61 to a link 68 which is operably connected through a bellcrank lever 69 (Fig. 1) and link I9 to a horizontally extending lever II which is fixed to the upper end of vertical rockshaft I2. This shaft I2 is suitably journalled in the transmission side cover I3 and has an intermediate portion formed with flats I4 for mounting an operating selector lever I5 which may slide along shaft I2 but which cannot rotate relative to the shaft. This lever I5 has apair of shift portions I6, I! (Figs. and 19) respectively adapted to selectively engage suitable recesses in the portions I8, I9 of shift yokes-89, 8|

respectively connected to gear 59 and sleeve C.

Yoke 89 is carried by and fixed to a reverse shift rail 82 and has grooves 83, 84 cooperable with the usual detent 85 to releasably fixed gear 59 in its neutral and reverse drive positions.

' Likewise yoke 8| is fixed to a rail 86 and has detent grooves 81, 88, 89 (Fig. 17) for releasably fixing the rail 86 and sleeve C in positions of neutral, low, and high. A spring 99 (Fig. 14) yieldingly urges lever I5 to its position of en-' gaging yoke 8| and by lifting lever 15 the shaft I2 may be operatively disconnected at 11, I9 from yoke 8| and operatively connected with yoke 89 at I6, I8. In the neutral position of selector lever 39 the shaft I2 is thus connected to yoke 8| so that shift of lever 39 to the low or high range will correspondingly shift sleeve C to clutch with teeth 52 or 4| through the aforesaid linkage between levers 65 and II.

In order to lift lever 15 for the reverse drive,

a bell crank lever 9| (Figs. 9, 10) is pivotally with a lever 98 (Figs. 1, 15 and 19) which is fixed to a horizontal shaft 99, tothe inner end of which is fixed a yoked lever I99 engaging lever I5.

When shift lever 39 is lifted from its neutral position, the bellcrank lever 94 swings clockwise in Fig. 9 to cause-Bowdem-wire 96 to act through levers 98 and I99 to lift lever I5 to connect shaft 12 with yoke so. Then by shifting lever 30 m wardly the lever 65 acts to rotate shaft I2 for meshing gear 59 with reverse idler 5| for the 1 reverse drive, sleeve 0 remaining in its neutral position. Yokes 89, 8| are slldably guided by a fixed rod |-9I, the yokes freely sliding relative to this rod. When lever 39 is returned from reverse to neutral, spring 99 acts, being stronger than spring 91, to move lever I5 downwardly to the Fig. 14 position of engagement with yoke 8|, lever 39 being then ready to establish low or high by shifting the same forwardly or rearwardly.

In order to effect automatic power shift of sleeve C, I provide a second lever I92 fixed to shaft I2 at the lower end thereof, this lever being connected through link I93 with the operating rod I94 of a power device or motor D. In the present embodiment this motor is pressure fluid I91". Rod I94 has a rear enlargement I99 slidable in bore I I9, this rod portion having a shouldered groove III cooperable with a latch |I2 pivotally mounted at H3 and yieldingly urged toward rod portion I99 by a rat trap spring H4. The latch II2 has an arm portion "5 formed with an in-turned finger I|6 engageable with shoulder III of plunger 8 the outer end of which is the armature of a solenoid E. Plunger II 8 has valving portions H9, I29 respectively iluziapted to close or open valving passages I2I,

The passage |2I controls vacuum supply to chamber I96 by a system of conduits comprising pipe I23 leading from intake manifold I24 of engine F to chamber I25, thence by passage |2I to chamber I26 and passage I21 to chamber I96. Passage I22 controls venting of chamber I96 by opening the latter to the atmosphere through passage I21, chamber I26 and passages I 22 and I28.

In Fig. 13 solenoid E is tie-energized thereby allowing a spring I29 to move plunger H8 inwardly to cause valve I29 to close passage I22 and valve 9 to open passage I2I. At thistime shoulder III is sufiiciently removed from finger H6 so that when piston I9'I is moved to position I91" by vacuum which is then acting on the piston, latch II2 will engage the shoulder I39 of groove II I and releasably hold the piston in such position independently of vacuum.- When solenoid E is energized, plunger I I8 moves outwardly releasing latch "2 from shoulder I 39, and the chamber I96 is now ventedbecause valve H9 is seated at |2| and valve I29 is unseated.

When rod I94 moves forwardly by spring I98,

solenoid E being energized to release latch 2 and vent chamber I96, shaft I4 is rotated to cause yoke 8| to shift rearwardly thereby establishing the low drive by clutching sleeve C with teeth 52, assuming lever I5 to be positioned as in Fig. 14. When rod I94 moves rearwardly by vacuum, solenoid B being de-energized to cause latch II2 to engage shoulder I39, yoke 8| is operated forward for the high range drive by clutching sleeve C with teeth 4|. Power shifts of sleeve C are, like the manual shifts, under control of blocker synchronizcr rings 56 and 63 andthese shifts cannot be made at any time, by power or manual operation, unless a condition of synchronization existsbetween sleeve C and the teeth 4| or 52 depending on the direction of shift of the sleeve.

The operation of motor D is preferably under control of suitable governor'means such that its operation is a function of car speed. I have therefore provided the governor B (Fig. 13) for controlling energization of solenoid E, this governor comprising a shaft |3I driven bygear 41 so as to cause the sleeve I32 to move outwardly at when ignition switclr I40 is closed preparatory to starting the engine." directs shift of sleeve C to low and as the car is accelerated to a predetermined desired speed then governor B opens switch G to de energize solenoid E thus opening chamber I06to manifold I24. However as long as driving torqjtie'is being delivered from the engine between te'eth '52 and sleeve C the sleeve cannot shift forwardly from its rearmost position. An accelerator pedal I42 of conventional type controls the engine throttle valve I42 in the well known manner and when this pedal is released, wholly or partly, then the driving torque is relieved to allow forward shift of sleeve C. vacuum causes piston I01 to move to I01", latch II2 holding the piston in this position as soon At the same time the attendant high prises a pin I42 projecting upwardly from the fixed housing of steering post (Fig. 11). In shifting lever 30 between itshigh and low range positions 'thelever 65 freely moves clear of the upper endof this pin but when lever 95 is depressed by rocking lever 30 at neutral then pin I42 prevents forward shift of the lever but does not interfere with rearward shift thereof for reverse.

In order to facilitate shift-of sleeve C automatically back and forth as a function of car speed, I preferably provide automatic disconnection of the engine and vehicle driving. ground wheels. In the present embodiment of my invention this disconnection is located in the auxiliary mechanism H herein illustrated as a known commercial type of kickdown overdrive selected because of its commercial availability and because it affords functional characteristics which serve certain of the operating functions of transmission A. The illustrated mechanism H is of the type disclosed in the copending application of E. F. Webb, Serial No. 216,003 filed June 27, 1938.

The transmission shaft 49 is the driving shaft for the overdrive mechanism H and is journalled in a bearing I43 carried by the intermediate splines I41.

Engaging splines I41 at the rear end of driving shaft extension I45, is the inner member I of as the piston has completed this stroke. As the piston moves under vacuum, sleeve C, is thrust forwardly to disengage teeth 52 and to act on blocker synchronizer 56 rapidly synchronizing teeth 4| with the speed of sleeve C and shaft 49 whereupon sleeve C completes its forward shift clutching with teeth 4|. This transition from low to high takes place during engine coast, the synchronizing action being thereby assisted by the engine naturally slowing down. Furthermore the change from drive to coast torque at teeth 52 unloads the sleeve C to allow the disengagement of the sleeve from the ow drive. As the car decreases in speed from a condition of drive in high, governor B causes switch G to close thereby releasing latch H2 and venting chamber I00. This produces a change from high to low. If a drive load is present at teeth 4| suiiicient to prevent shift of sleeve C rearwardly by spring I00, then disengagement of the sleeve will be delayed until the accelerator pedal is released. Under such conditions sleeve C is unloaded and shifts rearwardly, with blocker synchronizer action at ring 53, to clutch with teeth 52. If the engine is coasting, as in bringing the car to rest from a drive in high, spring I will cause shift of sleeve C to engage teeth 52 as the coast torque diminished at teeth 4|, somewhat sooner if the coast torque is relieved by depressing the accelerator pedal.

In order to prevent shift of lever 39 into conventional first where this speed is omitted in the tron, I have provided means for blanking out or preventing such shift. This coman overrunning clutch J which provides a releasable forward direct driving means from shaft 49 to the driven shaft I49. The shaft I49 extends as usual for driving through a propeller shaft (not shown) and other conventional mechanism to drive the rear vehicle ground wheels. As best shown in Figs. 16 and 20, the inner member I48 is formed with the usual cam faces I engaged by clutching rollers I5I, the rollers being spaced by the usual cage I52. The outer member of the overrunning clutch E comprises a cylinder I53 formed as an enlarged forward projection of the driven shaft I49. When the driving shaft 49 has a forward direction of rotation imparted thereto, as indicated by the arrow I54 in Fig. 20, and with the overdriving mechanism inoperative, the rollers I5I will be wedged between the inner and outer member I48 and I53 respectively of the overrunning clutch J so that the driven shaft I49 will be driven in a forward direction with the driving shaft 49. However, in the event that the driving shaft tends to slow down relative to the driven shaft, or in the event that the driven shaft tends to rotate forwardly faster than the driving shaft, the rollers I5I will be released from wedging action and such tendencies of the shafts to rotate relatively to one another will be readily accommodated.

It will be apparent that in order to drive shaft I40 in a reverse direction from the shaft 49, as when the gear 50 is shifted rearwardly to mesh with the reverse idler gear 5| for driving the vehicle in reverse, some means must be provided to render the overrunning clutch J inoperative in order to establish a drive connection between these shafts. In the present embodiment of the invention, this is accomplished by reason of a shiftable clutch sleeve K having a set of splined teeth I54 slidably engaging the external splines I55 formed on the cylindrical member I53. The shiftable sleeve K is provided with a groove I56 engaged by shift yoke I51 to which is welded a cup I50 through which a shift rod I59 may freely slide. This rod is slidably supported in fixed bosses I60, I6I. The yoke I51 has a downwardly extending guide portion I62 (Figs. 12 and 20) which is slidably supported on a stationary guide rod I63.

Located just below the forward end portion of rod I59 is a second rod I64 shiftable in boss I60 and having its rear end engaged with the face I65 of cup I58 when sleeve K is in its forwardmost position. The front end of rod I64 has a reduced cross-section at I66 and lies in the path of rearward shift of reverse rail 82 (Fig. 15). Therefore when shift lever 30 is manipulated for reverse drive, rail 82 in shifting gear 50 into mesh with reverse idler I thereby causes rod I64 to shift rearwardly. This acts on cup I58 to cause yoke I51 to shift sleeve K rearwardly to engage teeth I01 thereof with teeth I68 which are carried by the part I48 and therefore always rotating with shaft 49. Thus a two-way direct drive is established between shafts 49 and I49 as an incident to establishing the reverse drive in transmission A. In returning rail 82 to neutral from its reverse position, a spring I69 acts on cup I58 to shift sleeve K to disengage teeth I61 from teeth I68.

Limited shift of sleeve K, independently of definite relationship to the travel of lever I02 in moving sleeve C between its positions of for' ward and rearward shift, the arrangement being such that lever I01 is shifted by link I85 only 'D' is operating under vacuum to shift sleeve C forwardly for effecting high range drive. Sleeve C in conjunction with blocker ring 56 effects synchronizing of gear 40 and sleeve C as aforesaid whereupon sleeve C clutches with teeth 4I.

After the teeth 55 of sleeve C have established engagement with teeth M, the pin I84 is at the rear end of slot I83 whereby completion of the forward shift of sleeve C then swings lever I10 counterclockwise (Fig. 12) an amount sufficient to shift sleeve K forwardly to align slots I8I with pawls I82 to accommodate operation of the overdrive. This swing of lever I10 causes crank I12 shit of rail 82, is also provided in order to effect sequential operation of sleeve C and mechanism H and also to facilitate operation of transmission A. This control comprises a lever I10 fixed to a horizontal rockshaft I1I which, at its inner end, is provided with a crank I12 fitting a yoke I13 fixed at I14 to shaft I59. -The yoke I51 has an arched rearward extension I15 (Figs. 12, and i 21) through which rod I59 is freely. slidable, this yoke portion engaging the rear face of yoke I13 (Fig. 21). The rear end of spring I69 bears against the front face of yoke I13.

Rod I59 has its forward end portion formed with a notch I16 engageable by a ball detent I18 pressed by a spring I19 toward rail I59. When rail I59 is fully forward then detent I18 engages but the overdrive is prevented from operating as will be presently apparent. Extending forwardly from groove I56 the sleeve K is formed with one clutching portion I of an automatic clutch L, the portion I80 having a plurality of slots I8I adapted, when sleeve K is in its forwardmost position, to be radially aligned withv clutching pawlsl82 so as to accommodate entry of these pawls into the slots for establishing the overdrive in mechanism H.- If the slots are slightly offset from the pawls in a direction axially of shafts 49 and I49 as shown in Fig. 16 then the pawls cannot enter the slots and the overdrive cannot take place. In order to control the overdrive as a function of the operation of transmission A, I have provided the following means con rolling shift of sleeve K. v

The lower end of lever I10 is provided with a slot I83 (Fig. 12) slidabiyreceiving the pin I84 carried by the rear end of a l nk I85 whose forward end has articulated connection with the lever I02 (Figs. 14 and 15) adjacent the forward end of link I03. The length of slot I83 bears a to act on yoke I13 to shift rail I59 forwardly to allow detent I18 to enter notch I16, spring I69 transmitting the forward movement to cup I58 and thence through yoke I51 to sleeve K.

Assuming pawls I82 are released from slots I8I and that the car is being brought to rest after drive in the high range andoverdrive, As sleeve C is shifted rearwardly by spring I08 from its high range position to its low range position of clutching with teeth 52 under blocking synchronizing control of ring 63, pin I84 will have moved forwardly in the lost-motion slot I83 so that after initial clutching of sleeve teeth 55 with teeth 52 then pin I84 will swing lever I 10 clockwise (Fig. 12) for a small amount. This lever swing causes yoke I13 to shift rail I59 rearwardly to the Fig. 21 position, the yoke I13 acting on yoke part I15 to shift sleeve K to the Fig. 16 position. I have found that there is sufficient friction in the mechanism controlling shift of sleeve K so that in operation this sleeve-will remain in the Fig. 16 position and rail I59 in the Fig.21' position until forward shift of sleeve C again causes pin I84 to return sleeve K to its position of aligning slots I8I with pawls I82.

The foregoing control insures sequential stepup in. the drives of transmission A and mechamm H, the illustrated arrangement being such that step-up at H cannot occur until after the step-up at A has taken place. Furthermore this arrangement insures automatic disconnection of the engine and vehicle drive wheels when changes Y in speed ratio take place in transmission A as well as'in mechanism H because overrunning clutch J is not rendered inoperative by engagement of clutchL until after completion of the high range drive at A. This insures rapid-synchronized shifts for the sleeve C because sleeve C in shifting does not have to operate against engine power, it being noted that shifts of sleeve C take-place, during engine coast produced by slackening on the accelerator pedal.

Engaging the splines I41 forwardly of the overrunning clutch member I48, is the cylindrical hub portion I86 of a planet gear carrier 'I81 mounting a plurality of hollow shafts I88, one of which is illustrated in Fig. 16. I 7

Each shaft I88 journals a planet gear I89 by anti-friction bearings I80. The planet gears I89 are in constant mesh with an internal gear or annulus I9I and also with a sun gear I 92 through which the shaft extension I45 passes for rotation relatively thereto. Further details of the construction and operation of the sun gear I92 will be set forth subsequently in connection with the control therefor.

Drivingly carried by the internal gear |9I is a pawl-carrying cage or core I99 of the automatic speed responsive clutch generally designated at L. The cage I93 is rotatably centered on the hub I 96 preferably through an intermediate bushing I94.

The automatic clutch L is best illustrated in Fig. 23 wherein it will be noted that the cage I93 is formed with the pairs of diametrically opposite rearwardly extending projections I95 and,

tion of driving shaft 49 while holding the sun gear I92 relatively stationary.

When the motor vehicle is thus driven at or above the critical speed of operation M of the automatic clutch L, the overdrive is brought into operation by a momentary reduction in the speed of the driving shaft 49, accommodated by overrun at the overrunning clutch J, this reduction I99 adapted to slidably guide the centrifugal ele-' ments or pawls I82 outwardly for positive syn-. chronous clutching with one of the slots I8I of the aforesaid companion clutching structure in the form of the cylindrical shell I89 formed as an integral forward extension of the shiftable sleeve K.

Each pawl I82 is yieldingly urged inwardly or to its retracted declutched position 'of engagement with the bushing I94 as illustrated in Fig. 23 by a coil spring I91 which acts against the abutment I 98 of the pawl counter-balancing yoke portion I99. The other end of each coil spring I91 engages an abutment 290 formed as the head of an adjustable bolt 2! which slidably projects through the abutment I98 for adjustable threaded connection at 292 with a cage projection I96. Each bolt head 209 is accessible for adjustment exteriorly of the automatic clutch by aligning one of the slots I8I with an opening 203 in which the bolt head 299 is disposed, and by rotatably adjusting the bolts 2III it will be apparent that the compression of the coil springs I91 may be varied to change the load upon the pawls I82 and thereby vary the critical speed at which the pawls will fly outwardly under centrifugal force acting thereon'for clutching engagement with one of the slots I8I. Each pawl I82 has an outer face which is cammed at 294 so that the pawls will jump the slots I9I when the pawls' are urged outwardly by centrifugal force prior to synchronizing the speeds of rotation of the cage I93 and the shell I89.

In the operation of the overdriving mechanism H as thus far described, let it be assumed for the moment that the sun gear I92 is held against rotation and that the parts are positioned as illustrated in Fig. 16 but with sleeve K shifted forwardly to align slots I8I with pawls I82. The motor vehicle"; is accelerated in direct drive from shaft 49 through the overrunning clutch. J to the driven shaft I49. For purposes of illustration, let it be further assumed that the critical speed of the automatic clutch L is such that the pawls I 82 will be held inwardly by the coil springs I91 until the motor vehicle is driven at approximately M miles per hour, so that when the vehicle is driven at or above this speed the pawls will be urged outwardly but cannot engage the slots I8I' by reason of the relatively diiferent speeds of rotation of the cage I93 and shell I89 in con-.

junction with'the cammed pawl faces 204. Thus during this drive of the motor vehicle, the slots I 9| are rotating forwardly at the same speed as that of the driven shaft I49 whereas the pawls I82 together with the cage I93 and internal gear I9I are rotating forwardly at a speed faster than that of the driven shaft by the amount of the overdriving planetary gearing ratio incident to driving the planet cage I81 at the speed of rotain speed beingconveniently brought about by the vehicle drive releasing or partially releasing the accelerator pedal with an accompanying throttleclosing operation at the engine F.

As the speed of rotation of the driving shaft '49 slows down, the pawls I82 will be synchronized with the shell I80 and at such time the pawls will fly outwardly for clutching engagement with one of the slots I8I to thereupon couple shafts 49 distinguished from frictional clutching.

I will be driven from the engine through transmission A to the planetary gearing, assuming that the sun gear I92 maintains its relatively stationary condition, until the speed of the motor vehicle is reduced appreciably below the aforesaid critical speed M of automatic clutch engagement, at which time the coil springs I91 will operate to retract the pawls to the Fig. 23 position thereby releasing the drive through the planetary gearing and restoring the drive through the overrunning clutch J, it being apparent that this clutch will overrun during the aforesaid overdrive. By altering the adjustment of the bolts 21H or by replacing the coil springs I91 with other springs of differing values, it will be apparent that the automatic clutch may be made to function at any desired speed of the motor vehicle.

When gear 59 is shifted for reverse drive, thereby engaging teeth I61 with teeth I 68 to render clutch J inoperative, clutch L is also rendered invided 'a secondary controlling means for the over- 'driving mechanism by reason of which the 'sun gear I92 may be released at the will of the vehicle driver and since the sun gear I92 takes the reaction of the overdrive, it will be apparent that when the sun gear is. allowed to freely'rotate the overdrive mechanism will be rendered inoperative even in theevent that the automatic clutch L is engaged at the time of release of the sun gear.

The additional control means whereby the speed change mechanism H may be quickly and conveniently manipulated to establish a slower driving speed ratio, direct or 1 to 1 inthis instance, is conveniently termed a kick-down" control, and is shown in conjunction with the sun gear. In this arrangement the sun gear can be released for rotation to thereby release the overdrive and effect a change in the speed ratio drive through a slower drive in the mechanism H.

The releasable holding means for the sun gear preferably is of a known available commercial type and comprises a pawl and ratchet arrangement or other relatively movable drive control elements preferably of a positively enga'geable character, and an electrically controlled prime mover operator, illustrated as a solenoid, therefor. Energization of the solenoid is preferably controlled by a vehicle driver control herein il-' lustrated as the accelerator pedal. The control further embodies means for momentarily interrupting the ignition circuit for the internal combustion engine whereby the driving torque to the change speedmechanism is momentarily interrupted to facilitate unloading of the torquebetween these drive control elements so as to accommodate their release.

Referring particularly to Figs. 16 and 24, a collar 205 is splined on the sun gear I92 and has an annular radially outwardly extending portion 206 provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots or notches 201. The rear face of collar 205 abuts the adjacent. end face of the sun gear teeth and is retained in position by a ring 208, as shown in Fig. 16. A retractible drive controlling element or pawl 209, slidably mounted intermediate a pair of fixed wear plates 2|0 and 2 extending through an opening 2|2 in the intermediate member I44 is adapted to engage a slot 201 for releasably holding the-sun gear I92 against rotation. A split ring 2|3, preferably of spring steel, resiliently grips the outer periphery of the main body of collar 205 to be oscillated thereby as will be presently apparent. of the ring 2|3 are circumferentially spaced to provide an opening adapted to register with the opening 2l2 in the part I44 for accommodating engagement of the pawl 209 in a notch 201. One end portion of ring 2|3 has a radially outwardly extending ear 2 l4 disposed intermediate the plates 2|0 and 2| and which overlaps a portion of pawl 209 having a reduced thickness as indicated at 2|5 when the pawl is engaged in a slot for holding the sun gear against rotation. Oscillating movement of ring H3 is limited by engagement of ear 2. with the wear plates 2|0 and 2| I.

The pawl 209 is actuated by a rod 2|B d sposed in an opening 2 1 in a laterally extending portion axially in retracting the pawl from a slot 201.

The ends The opening 2" is enlarged at 222 to aecommodate retraction ofthe pawl.

The rod 2|6 projects outwardly beyond the portion 2"! through an opening in a cover'plate 223 fixed by screws. 224 to the end face of enlarged portion 2H1; The wall defining the opening in plate 223 extends radially inwardly beyond the wall defining the opening 2" and provides an abutment for a washer 225. The latter providesan abutment for one end of a coil spring 226 surrounding rod 2|6, the other end of the springmover motor herein illustrated as a solenoid and generally designated --by the numeral 221. The solenoid is contained within a casing 228 having a lateral flange secured to the plate 223 by screws 229. Contained within the casing 228 is the usual solenoid coil 230 spaced from the plate 223 by the has an opening 236.

spacer 23| having a central opening accommodating the solenoid core 232. The latter has an opening 233 therein through which extends the pawl actuator rod 2|6 and within which is disposed a coil spring 234 surrounding the rod 2|6. One end of Spring 234 abuts a washer 235 fixedly mounted on rod 2 I6, the washer abutting the adjacent face of the radially inwardly extending portion of the end wall of core 232 which portion The opposite end of spring 234 seats against an abutment 231 secured to the core 232. The relation of spring 226 to spring 234 is such that when the latter is compressed by movement of core 232 to the left, as indicated in Fig. 24, the bulit-up energy is suiiicient to move the rod 2| 6 and pawl 209 against resistance of spring 226 for retracting the pawl as will be presently apparent.

Carried by and movable with the solenoid core 232 is a metallic rod 238 having a portion thereof projecting axially beyond the adjacent end face of the core and extending into an'opening 239 in the end face of casing 228. The rod 238 is adapted, upon movement of core 232 in response to energization ofthe solenoid, to engage a contact point on an oscillatable switch blade 240 included in the engine ignition system' as hereafter set forth. The-switch blade 240 is carried by an insulating mounting 24| secured by screw 242 to casing 228. An insulating leg 243 is carried by blade 240 and engages the end face of the casing 228, it being understood that the blade is yieldably urged to the position shown by suitable means such as a relatively light spring.

The end face of casing 228 has an opening 244 accommodating the free end of rod 2 6, the latter being provided with an electrically insulated extremity 245 engageable with the switch blade 240' forthe purposes hereinafter set forth, it being, understood that the rod 238 is adapted upon energization of the solenoid to engage the switch blade contact point prior to engagement of the insulated extremity 245 of pawl actuator rod 2|6 with the switch blade. As will be presently apparent; the rod 238 is moved to engage the contact point of switch blade 240 for momentarily interrupting the engine ignition circuit, while subsequent engagement of the insulated extremity 245 of rod 2J6 with the blade reestablishes the circuit. This solenoid core. 232 and rod 230 constitute a leader part which, upon energization of the core, moves to interrupt the engine circuit, and during such movement the spring.234 is energized to actuate the rod 2li for releasing the pawl 209, the rod 2|6 constituting a follower which acts to restore the engine ignition circuit when the pawl 209 is released.

The switch 240 is included in the internal combustion engine ignition system or circuit which may be of any desired type and as hereinillustrated includes. the usual storage battery 248 having a connector 241 to the primary coil 248 and a return connector 248 in which is interposed a suitable switch, indicated at 250. The circuit also includes the secondary coil 25| connected with the movable member 252 of the distributor,

generally indicated at'253,- the latter having a series of stationary contacts connected by circuit wires to a respective spark plug of the internal combustion engine. One such connection is indicated at 254- for the insulated member of the spark plug 255, the opposing member of the spark plug being-grounded in the engine as is also the coil 25l, as indicated at 250. Connector 251 leads from the connector 241 to switch 240. The solenoid coil 230 is connected to the aforesaid circuit by circuit wire 258, the circuit to the solenoid being controlled through conductor 26I by the switch diagrammatically indicated at 259. The make and break switch indicated at 260 operates in timed relation with the movable member 252, viz., the contact is broken as the member engages a respective contact point and contact is made as the member 252 breaks contact with the aforesaid point.

The switch indicated at 259 is controlled by manipulation of a suitable vehicle driver operable member herein illustrated as the accelerator pedal I42 for the engine throttle control mechanism While the switch 259 may be arranged for operation in response to depression of the accelerator beyond its wide open throttle position for a throttle-overtravelling range of movement as disclosed in said Webb application, I have simplifled the showing by arranging this switch for operation during the last few degrees of throttle opening movement. Thus in Fig. 1 the switch 259 is closed by full depression of the accelerator pedal but only during the final opening movement of the usual engine throttle valve.

In the operation of just the change speed ratio mechanism H let it be assumed that the sleeve K is shifted forwardly to the limit of its travel and that the holding means heretofore described for the sun gear I92 of the planetary gearing is in the position shown in Fig. 24 and the vehicle is operating at a speed to effect operation of the automatic clutch L to establish the overdrive as aforesaid and the vehicle operator desires to establish a slower speed ratio by means of the kick-down control. This is accomplished by fully depressing the accelerator pedal I42 to close the switch 259 whereupon the solenoid 221 is energized. Upon energization of the solenoid coil 230 the core 232 thereof is moved to the left as indicated in Fig. 24 and the extremity of pin 238 engages the contact point of switch blade 240 to ground the primary side of the ignition circuit thereby momentarily interrupting the latter. This interruption in turn produces amomentary reduction of the driving torque to shaft 49 accommodating withdrawal of the pawl 209 from a respective notch 201 by relieving the load between the drive control members 209 and 206.

As the solenoid core 232 is moved to the left as aforesaid, the spring 234 is compressed against fixed abutment 235, it being understood that the spring abutment 231 is moved with core 232. When the driving torque to shaft 49 is momentarily reduced through action of the pin 238 as aforesaid, the energy built up by compression of spring 234 snaps the pawl actuator rod 216 to the left as indicated in Fig. 24 thereby withdrawing the pawl 209 from a respective notch 201 .against the resistance of spring 226. The intime andthat interruption of operation of engine F is only momentary Referring now to the blocker ring 2I3 and the 1 operation thereof in connection with the lfkickdown control, it will be understood that the shaft 49 rotates in a clockwise direction, as indicated by the arrows in Figs. 22 and 23, when annulus tends to drive the planet gears.

viewed from the front and such direction will be used throughout the following description. The Fig. 24 showing is viewed from the rear to better illustrate the relation of the parts and the direction of rotation of shaft 49 and its extension I45 being as indicated by the arrow.

When the holding means is in the Position shown in Fig. 24, as aforesaid, the planet gears are being revolved in a clockwise direction by rotation of the carrier I 81 by shaft 49, and rotate on a respective axis in a similar direction. The tendency therefore is for the sun gear I92 to rotate in clockwise direction and carry with it the blocker ring 2I3 due to the latter resiliently gripping the collar 205 of the sun gear. Where the pawl 209 is withdrawn from a slot 201 as aforesaid, the sun gear is free to rotate in response to its above tendency and the ring 2I3 is oscillated in a clockwise direction to move the radially extending ear against plate 2 I 0 to thereby prevent inward radial movement of the pawl 209 in response to action of spring 226. In this manner a slower speed ratio is established and continued during the time the accelerator pedal is maintained sumciently depressed to close the solenoid control switch 259. During this operation the automatic clutch L remains'operative and after release of the sun gear, the planet gears rotate on a respective axis in a counterclockwise direction and impart a clockwise direction of rotation to the sun gear.

When it is desired to .re-establish the higher speed ratio or faster drive in mechanism H by returning the various parts to the position indicated in Fig. 24 whereby the gun gear I92 is again retained against rotation, the accelerator pedal is released from its fully depressed position to open switch259 thereby de-energizing solenoid 221. While the spring 226 urges the pawl 209 radially inwardly to engage a slot 201, such engagement is prevented by the blocker ring 2I3 and can occur only by oscillation of the ring to a non-blocking position. This positioning of the ring results from rotation of the sun gear in a counter-clockwise direction. To accomplish the latter the accelerator pedal is moved to a position to decelerate the engine F whereby the driven annulus I9I is permitted, through operation of the clutch J to overrun the engine driven shaft 49; that is to say, the speed of the driven member I9I as well as that of the shaft I49 exceeds the speed of the driving shaft 49, and the driven This action is commonly referred to as coasting and when the transmission is so operating, the planet gears I89 are rotated in a clockwise direction, the sun gear being, of course, free for rotation, the direction thereof being counterclockwise. When the sun gear is so rotated it oscillates the ring 2I3 in a corresponding direction, the radially extending ear 2I4 engaging the plate 2 to limit movement. vThe ring 2I3 is, thus positioned to permit the pawl 209 to engage a slot 201 under action of the spring 226.

It will be apparent that means readily accessible to the'vehicle operator is provided for quickly establishing a slower speed drive through the kickdown control. The operation is preferably controlled by the accelerator pedal inasmuch as the latter is the means commonly operated to effect an immediate increase in power transmission. The electrically controlled prime mover operator; herein illustrated as a solenoid, is fully responsive to the control in effecting the momentary interruption of the engine ignition system pling may be omitted.

for accommodating release of the holding means, and for automatically restoring the normal operation of the ignition system following the latter release.

I preferably transmit the drive from engine F to transmission A through a fluid coupling (Fig. and standard type releasable friction main clutch P although, if desired, the fluid cou- Thi coupling is preferably employed as it not only allows the car to come to a stop without requiring clutch P to be released, but also allows the engine to develop a more favorable torque at low car speed thereby allowing a faster drive ratio for the low range drive than would otherwise be practicable from the standpoint of performance.

The engine crankshaft 262 carries the vaned fluid coupling impeller 263 which in the well known manner drives the vaned runner 264 whence the drive passes through hub 265 to the clutch driving member 266. This member then transmits the drive, when clutch C is engaged as in Fig. 5, through driven member 261 to the transmission driving shaft 268 carrying the main drive pinion 40. A clutch pedal 269 (Fig. 1) controls clutch P such that when the driver depresses this pedal, collar 210 is thrust forward to cause levers 21I to release the clutch driving pressure plate 212 against springs 213 thereby releasing the drive between runner 264 and shaft The primary function of main clutch P, when employed in conjunction with fluid coupling O, is to enable the driver to make certain manual shifts in transmission A especially for reverse and if for any reason the automatic system should fail. Of course, if a fluid coupling is not employed then some form of release mechanism, manual or automatic as is well known in the art, is desirable for the main clutch so that the car may be stopped in gear with the engine running as when stopping at a traffic light. Because of the automatic drive release at overrunning clutch J, which facilitates shifts of clutch sleeve C, it is not necessary to release clutch P during normal operation of the car when driving-and stopping in traflic and on the road in general.

In the operation of the power transmission a a whole, the critical speed N of operation of governor B in opening switch G may be ari ranged as desired and the same is the case in connection with the critical speed M of operation of clutch L. As an example of an arrangement which I have found satisfactory in practice,

the governor B may be arranged to open switch G at about M. P. H. car speed in the low range drive through transmission A and direct drive through mechanism B. The clutch L is preferably set to become operativeabove the critical speed N of governor B, as about 25 M. P. H. car speed with the same drive at A and H. For

convenience of understanding a typical arrangement of my invention, the following operation will be set forth using'the assumed values of M and N.

With the car at standstill and with' shift lever in neutral and the engine off, the operator closes the ignition switch I and starts the engine in the usual way. If desired the usual hand parking brake of the car may be set during this engine starting or the wheel brakes operated because ordinarily the. sleeve C will immediately shft to the low range when the engine is started and if the engine is raced the car may start ahead before the driver desires such start. In-

stead of braking the car, the driver may of course depress pedal 29 to release clutch P during starting of the engine. If the sleeve 0 does not itself move into the low range position then the driver releases clutch P and shifts lever 30 to the low range thereby clutching sleeve C with teeth 52. The position of lever 30 will at all times advise the driver of the position of sleeve C. Furthermore, when the ignition switch I40 is closed as aforesaid, solenoid E is energized because governor switch G is closed up to 15 M. P. H. car speed and chamber' I06 is vented, the shift of sleeve C into the low range being directed by spring I08.

When sleeve C shifts rearwardly to its low range drive position of clutching with teeth 52,

link I85 causes pin I84 to engage the forward end of slot I83 thereby imparting a slight rearward shifting movement to sleeve K of mechanism H thereby misaligning slots I8I from pawls I82 and rendering step-up at H inoperative until after step-up to the high range at A has been effected with resulting forward shift of sleeve K sufiicient to allow pawl I82 to enter slots I8I.

Clutch L is of course disengaged at car standstill and the car is started forwardly in the low range at A and in direct free-wheeling at H. This starting is effected by release of the brakes which may have been 'set and by depressing the accelerator pedal to speed up the engine, or by releasing clutch pedal 269 if the same was depressed and speeding up the engine.

The car is now accelerated in the low range at A and direct free-wheeling through overrunning clutch J at H. If the car is accelerated to a speed between N and M, governor B causes the governor switch G to open thereby openingchamber I06 to the intake vacuum and if at this time the driver releases the accelerator pedal the sleeve C will be shifted forwardly to clutch with teeth M for the high range or direct drive in transmission A. The act of releasing the accelerat-or pedal facilitates this step-up, the engine being automatically disconnected from the car driving ground wheels by reason of the overrunning clutch J sothat the sleeve C may easily operate on the blocker synchronizer ring 56 in conditions of coast from a drive in the low range to a car speed between M and N values, the stepup at H will not occur and only transmission A will respond to this coast for a step-up.

The car may then be further accelerated in high range at A and direct at H by depressing the accelerator pedal to causethe engine to drive the car. If the car speed then exceeds 25 M. P. H. or other predetermined value for M, the driver releases the accelerator pedal and when the speed of pawls I82 slows down to that of member I and shaft I49, clutch J overrunning, the pawls I82 will then engage the slots I8I for a step-up two-way drive at H. The step-up at H may be delayed as long as desired and the car accelerated in direct at H to any desired speed above the value M and driven at this speed so long as the accelerator pedal is not released to allow clutch L to operate at synchronization between the speeds of annulus gear I9I and shaft I40. When clutch L ls engaged then the overrunning clutch J is thereby rendered inoperative and the car no longer will free-wheel, this con- .dition being desirable for engine braking at speeds above M or 25 M. P. H. in the assumed conditions.

If the car is accelerated in the low range at A and direct at H to a speed above 25 M. P. H. be- .fore releasing the accelerator pedal, then when the accelerator pedal is released the sleeve C will step-up the drive to the high range at A followed immediately-by step-up at H to overdrive. The step-up at H must follow the step-up at A because sleeve K is not moved to its position of unblocking relative to pawls I82 until after clutch C engages teeth 4| thereby insuring forward synchronizing shift of clutch C under conditions of release of shaft 49 fromshafrt I49 assisted by natural showing down in the speed of engine F.

As the car slows down-t a speed. below 25 M. P.-H., depending on coast or drive load conditions between pawls I82 and slots I8 I, the pawls I82 move inwardly thereby automatically effecting step-down at H in advance ofistep-down at shifts sleeve C toward the low range position. By this time the parts are practically at rest and blocker 63 generally prevents sleeve C from shifting beyond neutral until the engine starts to turn over as in starting the engine again. Of course, the driver may leave lever in any desired shift position. v

For reverse, the pedal 28! is ordinarily dcpressed to release the main clutch P, and lever 00 shifted to its reverse station thereby shifting gear into mesh with reverse idler 5|. The shift of reverse rail 82 acts through rod IN to shift sleeve K rearwardly thereby engaging teeth I61 and I to lock out the overrunning clutch J. Spring I08 assists the shift from neutral to reverse. M. P. H. or the value. of N then diaphragm I0i is subjected to vacuum in chamber I06. If now the driver depresses clutch pedal 269 and brings P is released whereupon vacuum at chamber I00 A. This usually occurs at around 20 M. P. H.

. latch II2, venting of chamber I06, and operation of spring I08 to release sleeve C from the high range drive position and cause the sleeve to shift .rearwardly to the low range position engaging teeth 52. This shift usually occurs just below 15 M. P. H or other value of N, because with the accelerator pedal released in braking the car into the low range speed, clutch J is overrunning and shift of sleeve C is easily accommodated. In practice, with the illustrated arrangement, I have found that this downshift occurs around 8 to 10 M. P. H. Of course, if the car slows down below 15 M. P. H. while the engine is still imposing 1 drive load to shaft I 49 instead of coat-gang, then sleeve C will resist disengagement from teeth M for rearward shift by spring I00 and will remain engaged until a lower car speed has been reached. Y

However, as soonas the accelerator pedalis released to unload the sleeve C then the shift will occur.

If the car to idle, the sleeve C remaining in the low range position. Nothing further is necessary to accel crate the car'again other than depressing the accelerator pedal.

In practically all instances of stopping the car and opening the'ignition switch I40, as in parking I the car, the sleeve C and shift lever 30 shift-from low range to high range and then to a position of rest, in neutral-sometimes in the low range.

This is brought about because in shutting off the ignition when in the second range'position of sleeve C, chamber I06 is opened to the intakemanifold' and the residual vacuum occasioned by speed is then further retarded so as to stop, the fluid coupling 0 allows the enginecauses lever 00 to move rearwardly to pin I42 whereupon spring 90 causes I5 to release yoke 00 and engage yoke 8|. 'By this' time governor switch G is closed and lever 30 and sleeve C shift to their low range positionsby spring I00.

It will be apparent that the fluid coupling 0 may be omitted as shifts of clutch sleeve C are made by free-wheeling at clutch J, the freewheeling being automatically dispensed with at high speeds where sleeve C remains at its high range position. However, coupling 0 is desired for other reasons as aforesaid.

I claim:

1. In a .drive for a motor vehicle having an engine; a driving shaft adapted to receive drive from the engine; a driven shaft adapted to receive drive at variable ratios from said driving shaft for driving the vehicle; an intermediate shaft coaxial with said driving and driven shafts and disposed therebetweenya first set of clutch teeth driven at 1 to 1 ratio with said driving shaft; a second set of clutch teeth; means for- 'of said shiftable clutch member toward said first set of clutch teeth to establish a synchronous relatlon between this clutch member and this set of teeth while blocking shift of this member into engagement with this set of teeth until establishment of said synchronous relation has occurred;

blocking synchronizing means operable in response to shift of said shiftable clutch member the engine coming to rest causes sleeve C to shift to its high range position. Then, as this vacuum approaches atmospheric pressure, pring I00 towardsaid second set of clutch teeth to establish a synchronous relation between thiscljutch member and this set of teeth while blocking shift of this member into engagement set of teeth until establishment of said synchronous relationshas occurred; p wder applying means operable to If the car is driven in reverse above 15.

means; an overrunning clutch operable for transmitting one-way drive from said intermediate shaft to said driven shaft; overdrive means operable to establish a two-way drive between said intermediate and driven shafts by bridging said overrunning clutch thereby to drive said driven shaft from, and at a speed faster than that of, said intermediate shaft; control means for said overdrive means operable to selectively render said overdrive means either capable or incapable of establishing said two-way drive; and means for causing said control means to render said overdrive means incapable of establishing said twoway drive prior to engagement of said shiftable clutch member with said first set of clutch teeth whereby said overrunning clutch will operate to facilitate power clutching shift of said shiftable clutch member by disconnecting said intermediate shaft from said driven shaft in response to coast of said intermediate shaft.

2. In a drive for a motor vehicle having an engine; a driving shaft adapted to receive drive from the engine; a driven shaft adapted to receive drive at variable ratios from said driving shaft for driving the vehicle; an intermediate shaft coaxial with said driving and driven shafts and disposed therebetween; a first set of clutch teeth driven at 1 to 1 ratio with said driving shaft; a second set of clutch teeth; means for driving said second set of clutch teeth at reduced speed from said driving shaft; a shiftable clutch member drivingly connected to said intermediate shaft and adapted for selective shift in opposite directions for engagement with either said first or second sets of clutch teeth thereby to provide 1-,

relatively fast or slow drives from said driving shaft to said intermediate shaft; blocking synchronizing means operable in response to shift of said shiftable clutch member toward said first set of clutch teeth to establish a synchronous relation between this clutch member and this set of teeth until establishment of said synchronous relation has occurred; blocking synchronizing means operable in response to shift of said shiftable clutch member toward said second set of clutch teeth to establish a synchronous relation between this clutch member and this set of teeth while blocking shift of this member into engagement set of teeth until establishment of said synchronous relation has occurred; power applying means operable to effect power shift of said shiftable clutch member selectively toward each of said sets of clutch teeth; speed responsive controlling means operable in response to predetermined speed of one of said shafts for controlling shift of said shiftable clutch member by said power applying means; an overrunning clutch operable for transmitting one-way drive from said intermediate shaft to said driven shaft; a speed responsive clutch comprising relatively engageable clutching structures; means for drivingly connecting said clutching structures to said intermediate and driven shafts respectively so as to provide, when said clutching structures are relatively engaged, a two-way drive between said intermediate and driven shafts by bridging said overrunning clutch thereby to drive said driven shaft from, and at a speed faster than that of, said intermediate shaft; means for shifting me of said clutching structures relative to the other between first and second positions thereof to selectively render said clutching structures either capable or incapable of relative engagement thereby to control operation of sa d two-way drive; and means for effecting shift of said shiftvuulull able clutching structure as a function of shift of said shiftable clutch member such that said shiftable clutching structure is shifted to its said second position in response to shift of said shiftable clutch member into engagement with said second set of clutch teeth, and such that said shiftable clutching structure is shifted from its said second position to its said first position as an incident to clutching shift of said shiftable clutch member toward said first set of clutch teeth, whereby said overrunning clutch will operate to facilitate power clutching shift of said shiftable clutch member by disconnecting said intermediate shaft from said driven shaft in response to coast of said intermediate shaft.

3. In a drive for a motor vehicle having an engine: a driving shaft adapted to receive drive from the engine; a driven shaft adapted to receive drive at variable ratios from said driving shaft for driving the vehicle; an intermediate shaft coaxial with said driving and driven shafts and disposed therebetween; a first set of clutch teeth driven at 1 to 1 ratio with said driving shaft; a second set of clutch teeth; means for driving said second set of clutch teeth at reduced speed from said driving shaft; a shiftable clutch member drivingly connected to said intermediate shaft and adapted for selective shift in opposite directions for engagement with either said first or second sets of clutch teeth thereby to provide relatively fast or slow drives from said driving shaft to said intermediate shaft; blocking synchronizing means operable in response to shift of said shiftable clutch member toward said first set of clutch teeth to establish a synchronous relation between this clutch member and this set of teeth while blocking shift of this member into engagement with this set of teeth until establishment of said synchronous relation has occurred; blocking synchronizing means operable in -re sponse to shift of said shiftable clutch member toward said second set of clutch teeth to establish a synchronous relation between this clutch member and this set of teeth while blocking shift of this member into engagement set of teeth until establishment of said synchronous relation has occurred; power applying means operable to ffect power shift of said shiftable clutch member selectively toward each of said sets of clutch teeth; speed responsive controlling means operable in response to predetermined speed of one cf said shafts for controlling shift of said shiftable clutch member by said power applying means; an overrunning clutch operable for transmitting one-way drive from said intermediate shaft to said driven shaft; a speed responsive clutch comprising relatively engageable clutching structures; means for drivingly connecting said clutching structures to said intermediate and driven shafts respectively so as to provide, when said clutching structures are relatively engaged, a two-way drive between said intermediate and driven shafts by bridging said overrunning clutch thereby to drive saiddriven shaft from, and at a speed faster than that of said intermediate shaft: means for shifting one of said clutching structures relative to the other between first and sec nd positions thereof to selectively render said clutching structures either capable or incapable r'f relative engagement thereby to control operation of said two-way drive; and a lost motion connection between said shiftable clutch member and said shiftable clutching structure for effecting shift of said shiftable clutching structure as a function of shift of said shiftable clutch mem- MUM 

